The Syrian Bishop has collected donations for the redemption from the captivity of ISIS 200 Christians

The priest from Syria managed to collect the ransom money of more than 200 Assyrian Christians, who were taken hostage by militants of the terrorist group “Islamic state” (IG banned in Russia) in February 2015, reports the associated Press.

According to the Agency, it has become one of the largest abductions in Syria and Iraq in the history of the conflict. The hostages were seized during simultaneous attacks by militants in 35 settlements in which lived Christians, February 23, 2015. It is reported that the number of hostages was 226 people.

The Agency found out that the terrorists put a condition that they can free 17, if one of them takes a note demanding a ransom for the Bishop of the Syrian city of El-Hasaka Mar Aframe Atalo (Mar Afram Athneil). The terrorists demanded 50 thousand dollars for each of the kidnapped, otherwise they are going to start execution.

Reportedly, the Bishop took the decision within three days. To make a deal with terrorists was a big risk, but he agreed to terms for the sake of saving lives. The priest Abdo Marz, whose daughter was among the hostages, agreed to fulfill the condition fighters.

Information about collecting funds for the redemption of the hostages spread through social networks. According to the associated Press, the decisive factor was the publication of the video, which depicted the execution of three hostages, and then funds began to arrive from different parts of the world.

According to the Agency, the last 43 hostages were released on 22 February 2016. The total amount of the ransom remains unknown, the Bishop of Atnal refused to comment on the information.

“Honestly, this man should be canonized for what he did and for the sacrifices he made to help these people”, — quotes Agency the words ANEC Nissan, who helped raise funds in Canada. According to him, the Bishop refused to leave Syria until all his people are safe.

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